U.S. patent number 6,443,932 [Application Number 09/612,039] was granted by the patent office on 2002-09-03 for multi-tiered feminine pad.
Invention is credited to Lori Maggiulli.
United States Patent |
6,443,932 |
Maggiulli |
September 3, 2002 |
Multi-tiered feminine pad
Abstract
A multi-tiered feminine pad consisting of multiple pad layers
which have an absorption layer disposed on top of an impermeable
material wherein the multiple pad tiers are secured together in a
manner which allows removal of successive pad tiers while leaving
the remaining pad tiers intact.
Inventors: |
Maggiulli; Lori (Covina,
CA) |
Family
ID: |
23121443 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/612,039 |
Filed: |
July 7, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
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291699 |
Apr 14, 1999 |
6280427 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
604/385.01;
604/385.14; 604/386 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61F
13/474 (20130101); A61F 13/505 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A61F
13/15 (20060101); A61F 013/15 (); A61F
013/20 () |
Field of
Search: |
;604/385.01,385.03,385.08,378,385.14,386,387,389,390 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Weiss; John G.
Assistant Examiner: Kidwell; Michele
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Trojan Law Offices
Parent Case Text
This is a divisional of Application Ser. No. 09/291,699, filed Apr.
14, 1999 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,427.
Claims
I claim:
1. A multi-tiered feminine pad, which attaches to an undergarment
for everyday use as a pantyliner and during a menstrual cycle,
comprising: a first pad tier, a middle pad tier, and a top pad
tier; each pad tier having an under surface, first and second
opposing elongated sides, and third and fourth opposing sides that
are shorter in length than said first and second sides; each pad
tier further having a plurality of layers, a first layer comprised
of an absorbing material, a second layer, having a bottom planar
surface and a top planar surface, comprised of an impermeable
material; said first layer, having a top surface and a bottom
surface, which fits within and is attached to said top planar
surface of said second layer; said top pad tier having a smaller
surface area than said first pad tier; said middle pad tier having
a smaller surface area than the top and first pad tiers; said
middle pad tier is located below the top pad tier and above the
first pad tier; and means for securing the first pad tier to at
least one successive pad tier while allowing for detachment of at
least one successive pad tier from the first pad tier, wherein said
securing means comprise adhesive disposed along said under surfaces
of said pad tiers.
2. A multi-tiered feminine pad as in claim 1 further comprising an
adhesive disposed along the bottom planar surface of said
impermeable material of said first pad tier for attachment of said
multi-tier pad to the undergarment.
3. A multi-tiered feminine pad as in claim 1 wherein third and
fourth opposing sides of said pad tiers are rounded.
4. A multi-tiered feminine pad as in claim 1 wherein said
impermeable material is plastic.
5. A multi-tiered feminine pad as in claim 1 further comprising a
third layer comprised of a material which allows absorption of
fluid into said first layers while preventing reverse flow of fluid
through the material, wherein the material is disposed over said
top surface of said first layers.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to feminine pads, and more
specifically to multi-tiered feminine pad.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Disposable feminine pads, or sanitary napkins, have long been used
by women during their menstrual cycles. Women have also used these
feminine pads as an everyday pantyliner to maintain a high level of
freshness and cleanliness throughout the day. Such menstrual pads
and pantyliners must be replaced periodically. Many enhancements
have been made to such products to increase their comfort and the
protection they offer, however, for a woman to feel fresh and
clean, she must currently replace her feminine pad with an entirely
new feminine pad.
The need to replace the feminine pad requires women to carry at
least one replacement. Thus, a woman must carry with her some type
of receptacle in which to carry her replacement feminine pads. This
leaves the woman few options if she wishes to travel without a
handbag or purse.
The current art requires that the entire pad must be replaced in
order to maintain the highest level of freshness and cleanliness.
Hence, the need exists for a feminine pad which will allow a woman
to freshen her pad without having to carry along cumbersome
replacement pads.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward a feminine pad which
satisfies the needs identified above: a feminine pad which can be
refreshed without requiring the use of an entirely new replacement
pad. The preferred version of this invention includes: i) a first
absorbing pad tier consisting of an impermeable layer which is
adhered to an undergarment; ii) a first absorbing layer; iii) a
first dry weave layer to allow permanent absorption into the
absorbing layer without allowing reverse flow of absorbed fluid;
iv) a multiplicity of additional pad tiers each consisting of an
impermeable layer, an absorbing layer, and a dry weave layer
adhered to the immediately lower pad tier but easily removable by
perforations along the edges of each pad tier. Alternatively, each
pad tier can be adhered by a strip of adhesive with the top pad
tier being removed by stripping it away from the next successive
tier underneath.
The multi-tiered pad allows the user to attach the pad to an
undergarment by using an adhesive strip located on the underside of
the pad. When the user wishes to refresh the pad, the top-most tier
can be stripped away leaving a clean pad tier underneath.
Successive pad tiers can be removed by the user as needed until all
tiers have been utilized.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent from the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiment of the invention without intending to limit
the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appended
claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an exploded view of the invention;
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the preferred embodiment of the
invention in use;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the invention in its preferred
embodiment;
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the
invention in use; and
FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the alternative embodiment of
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
An embodiment of the multi-tiered feminine pad 5 (FIG. 1) includes
three pad tiers 10, 20, and 30. The middle tier 20 is smaller than
the top tier 30 and the first or bottom tier 10 which are
essentially the same size. All three tiers have generally the same
shape, opposing elongated sides 15 and 16, and opposing sides that
are shorter than the elongated sides, and the shorter sides are
rounded 17 and 18. The three tiers are stacked upon each other
(FIG. 2).
The first pad tier 10 (FIGS. 2 and 3) includes of a layer of
impermeable material (not shown), such as plastic, and this layer
has an adhesive strip located on the bottom planar surface of the
impermeable material to adhere the feminine pad to an undergarment.
The adhesive should be of satisfactory strength to securely attach
to the undergarment while still allowing the user to remove the pad
after use.
Secured to and fitting within the top planar surface of the
impermeable material, is an absorbent layer 13 having a top surface
and a bottom surface, which comprises a suitably absorbent
material. Over the top surface to the absorbent layer is a dry
weave material 14 which allows absorption by the absorbent layer,
but prevents reverse flow through the dry weave material of the
absorbed fluid.
Attached to first pad tier 10 is a middle pad tier 20. The middle
pad tier 20 has substantially the same construction as the first
pad tier 10, namely, a second impermeable layer 22, a second
absorbent layer 23, and disposed on the top planar surface of the
absorbent layer is a dry weave material 24. Multiple additional pad
tiers having the same construction as the first and second pad
tiers can be used.
The multiple pad tiers are secured together by perforations 33 and
34 (FIG. 2) along the first and second elongated sides 15 and 16 of
the pad tiers. Successive pad tiers can be removed by tearing along
the perforations 33 and 34.
An alternative embodiment includes securing the first pad tier 10
(FIG. 5) to the middle pad tier 20 with an adhesive strip 21
located on the bottom surface of the impermeable layer. Further,
securing the middle tier pad to the top tier pad 30 with an
adhesive strip 31 located on the bottom surface of the impermeable
layer. The adhesive used should be of suitable strength to keep
each pad tier in place when in use, while allowing the user to
easily remove pad tiers when necessary.
The spirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited
to the description of the preferred versions contained herein.
Although the present invention has been described in considerable
detail with reference to certain preferred versions thereof, other
versions are possible.
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